Consultation

The patient should set up a consultation appointment with a surgeon who is a specialist in facial reconstructive surgeries after cancer treatment. The surgeon and patient should discuss various aspects of the procedure such as possibilities of correction. The patient will also be able to discuss their goals from the procedure and the outcomes that they seek.

The surgeon will explain the procedure and its long-term advantages in-depth to the patient. Each patient requires a unique surgical approach, and the surgeon will determine which treatment plan and technique are suitable for a specific patient.

Suitable Candidates

Patients with more extensive facial skin cancers, recurrent skin cancers or cancers on sensitive facial sites such as the lips, ears, nose, and eyelids may be ideal candidates for coordinated care between the Mohs dermatologists and a facial reconstructive surgeon.

In general, the Mohs surgeon excises the tumor on a particular day. On the following day, the plastic surgeon may undertake the facial reconstructive surgery.

Key Aspects of the Procedure

The options for reconstructive surgery include flaps (local tissue rearrangement) and skin grafts, as well as complicated transfers of bone, skin and/or cartilage to accomplish balance and symmetry in the face. The patient’s feedback will guide the surgeon to determine the most suitable reconstructive approach for their unique needs.

The surgeon will try to balance the complexities of the reconstruction surgery with the patient’s aesthetic goals to attain the best possible cosmetic and functional outcomes.

Post-Mohs Facial Reconstruction Options

Post-Mohs facial reconstructive surgery does not have one standard “formula” as the amounts, areas, and types of tissues impacted vary between patients. But some commonly used techniques are as follows:

Flap techniques: This technique is most commonly utilized for post-Mohs facial reconstruction.

Bone grafting: Bone is usually sourced from the skull and shaped for placement in the treated site.

Cartilage grafting: The ear is the most common donor area for cartilage. However, the surgeon may also source cartilage from the rib cage.

Tissue expansion: For a small number of patients, tissue expanders are used.

Skin grafts: Facial reconstruction often involves the use of skin grafts.

After the Reconstructive Surgery

An important aspect to understand is that for around 15 percent of patients, facial reconstruction following skin cancer removal is undertaken in at least two phases. This occurs largely when specific flap techniques are utilized. In the first phase, the surgeon creates and repositions the flap. The second phase involves separating the flap and its blood supply from its original site.

This means that after the patient recovers and the blood supply to the wound has been adequately established, they may require another surgery to complete the reconstructive procedure. In surgical procedures that do not involve the use of the flap technique, the patient may still need additional procedures to achieve their aesthetic goals.

For more information about treatments and procedures by Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Dr. Eric J. Yavrouian, serving patients in and around Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank and the Greater Los Angeles, CA area call 818-241-2150 or click here to contact him for a consultation.

Cancer Reconstruction

The Mohs technique commonly creates facial cancer defects. The repair of these defects usually involves the use of skin grafts or healthy adjacent skin flaps. Sometimes large cancers on the face may be repaired with free tissue transfer. This involves using muscle, skin, and/or bone from another body part to correct the facial defect.

Cleft Lip Repair

This procedure refers to the surgical treatment of the cleft lip birth deformity. This surgery is typically undertaken at three to six months of age. It seeks to repair nostril asymmetry (tip rhinoplasty) and the lip deformity.

Cleft Palate Repair

Cleft palate repair is the surgical correction of the cleft palate birth defect. This surgery is typically carried out at nine to 12 months of age. In this surgery, the surgeon repairs the cleft in the mouth’s roof and usually places ear tubes as well to prevent ear infections.

Facial Paralysis

This procedure helps treat facial deformity due to facial paralysis. Multiple techniques are employed to improve the symmetry of the face and restore facial movement. The surgeon usually places small weights in the upper eyelid to prevent the eyes from getting dry.

Facial Trauma Reconstruction

This surgery corrects facial fractures and/or facial lacerations. The patient may suffer these injuries under various circumstances such as motor accidents, domestic violence, fights, sports events, and animal bites among others. These fractures usually impact the cheekbone, jawbone, eye socket, or eyebrow.

The surgery involves realigning the bone segments and fixing these fragments for proper healing. Traumatic lacerations to the face can lead to facial nerve damage, tear duct injury, scarring, salivary duct transection, or ear avulsion (loss of a body part).

Microtia Repair

This procedure refers to the surgical correction of a congenital missing ear. The surgeon creates an ear using the cartilaginous framework sourced from rib cartilage in stage I. Then in stage II, the surgeon refines the framework by creating an earlobe. Subsequently, in stage III, the surgeon creates a crease behind the new ear.

Face Transplant

A face transplant is a procedure that replaces a portion or the entirety of an individual’s face. This procedure may be suitable for people who have sustained severe facial disfigurement due to injury, cancer or a birth deformity.

Other treatment options for such patients may have been ineffective. This procedure involves psychological testing to ensure that the person has the right mindset to receive a face transplant. The time taken for this procedure can be up to three years.

The initial step in this procedure is to source healthy and appropriate tissue from a donor. After that, the facial transplant candidate is prepped for the procedure. This prepping includes the removal of injured or dead tissue. During the procedure, the surgeon must connect the new tissue and restore the flow of blood to the “new” facial structure.

Kind facial plastic and reconstructive surgeonDr. Eric Yavrouian receives patients from Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, Greater Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, CA, and other towns and cities in this part of The Golden State

.For more information about treatments and procedures by Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Dr. Eric J. Yavrouian, serving patients in and around Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank and the Greater Los Angeles, CA area call 818-241-2150 or click here to contact him for a consultation.

The choice of the surgeon for a facial reconstructive cosmetic surgery is a decision that will impact the patient’s life for years, if not forever. A successful facial reconstructive surgery can make the patient feel more confident about their appearance for many years to come.

Conversely, in the hands of an inexperienced or less trained surgeon, the patient can end up with poor outcomes. This will mean spending more time and money on revision surgery in the future as well as going through disappointment and discomfort.

Patients should ensure that the surgeon is board certified in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Even a board certification in general surgery or plastic surgery is not an ideal choice. The patient should focus on choosing a surgeon with advanced training and board certification specifically in facial surgery.

A lot of people wrongly believe that they can rely on state medical boards for assurance that surgeons have the right qualifications to perform the procedures that they advertise. However, in reality, the government imposes no requirements on a surgeon to be specially trained in the surgeries they provide.

This is a serious issue in the field of plastic surgery. Many physicians with training in only general surgery or other medical disciplines could perform facial cosmetic surgery on patients, but with inconsistent outcomes.

It is essential to choose a facial reconstructive surgeon who is an expert in performing facial surgeries. The surgeon must train for a minimum number of years in facial plastic surgery after completing medical school to receive board certification in facial procedures.

Comfortable Relationship with the Surgeon and Staff

The patient should pay close attention to how the plastic surgeon and their staff make them feel. A facial surgery is a major procedure, and the patient may face challenges on their journey to achieve a new appearance.

Therefore, it is essential for a patient to feel completely at ease with their plastic surgeon and their administrative staff. For safe and effective results, patients should work with a cosmetic surgeon they like and trust.

The patient should ask themselves the following questions:

How do I feel spending time with this cosmetic surgeon?

Do I believe this surgeon will offer safe and appropriate recommendations to me?

Will I be able to openly ask this surgeon any questions I might have throughout the facial reconstructive surgery process?

Does the surgeon make me feel comfortable enough to discuss my health history and behaviors with the surgeon honestly (this aspect is crucial for the patient’s safety)?

Open Communication and Trust

Personalized service is important as well. The patient should get a warm and caring environment at the surgeon’s office which usually becomes apparent a few minutes after the patient enters the practice. The surgeon and their team should make an effort to establish a relationship of trust, open communication, and transparency.

Some areas to assess are as follows:

Is the surgeon’s administrative staff warm, cordial, and helpful?

Do I receive materials to help me prepare entirely for the risks and realities of facial reconstructive surgery and its recovery?

Are all the fees stated transparently? Does the quote include all costs?

For more information about treatments and procedures by Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Dr. Eric J. Yavrouian, serving patients in and around Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank and the Greater Los Angeles, CA area call 818-241-2150 or click here to contact him for a consultation.

About Dr. Yavrouian

The focused Dr. Eric J. Yavrouian has a double board certification in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Yavrouian’s primary goal is to provide excellent care and the best services to his patients. He always places equal emphasis on form as well as function and customizes these aspects to match the patient’s needs, while providing them with natural and beautiful looking results.

Dr. Yavrouian is certified by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Further to his training in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, he has traveled to Houston to receive the best facial plastic surgery training.

He has vast experience and training in primary as well as revision of facial cosmetic surgery procedures. His focused expertise in facial procedures differentiates from many other plastic surgeons.

Choosing the Right Surgeon

The surgeon’s skill and experience in facial surgery is an essential factor to evaluate when considering an intricate procedure such as facial reconstruction surgery. Before deciding on a plastic surgeon for facial reconstructive surgery, the patient should ensure that the surgeon has specialized in facial surgeries.

A surgeon with dedicated training in facial procedures will understand the intricacies and characteristics of the face more closely and will individualize the procedure to create outcomes that suit the needs of a specific patient.

Board Certified Surgeons

Facial reconstructive surgery patients should know whether the surgeon has a board certification in facial plastic surgery or not. A board certified facial plastic surgeon would have received in-depth residency training for neck and head surgery along with facial cosmetic surgery. Following this intensive training and passing a rigorous written and oral exam, the surgeon would receive board certification in facial plastic surgery.

Many surgeons claiming to be trained plastic surgeons for facial procedures may not have board certification in this specific area. They may not have received specialized facial plastic surgery training. These are crucial aspects for a patient to consider while identifying a plastic surgeon for facial reconstructive surgery.

Qualities of an Accomplished Surgeon

On top of assessing the surgeon’s credentials, experience, and training in the area of facial surgery, the patient should also feel comfortable working with the surgeon throughout the reconstructive process. Some of the primary qualities to look for in a surgeon are as follows:

The surgeon should be professional and transparent while answering the patient’s questions. It should be easy for the patient to converse with the surgeon.

The surgeon should focus on the health, predictability, and safety aspects of the surgery as well as on the aesthetic outcomes of the procedure.

The surgeon should encourage the patient to express their concerns, cosmetic goals, hopes, and aspirations and offer detailed and precise answers.

For more information about treatments and procedures by Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Dr. Eric J. Yavrouian, serving patients in and around Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank and the Greater Los Angeles, CA area call 818-241-2150 or click here to contact him for a consultation.